---
title: "CVE-2018-16539\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-16539?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2018-16539

Publication date 5 September 2018

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.5 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-16539?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

In Artifex Ghostscript before 9.24, attackers able to supply crafted
PostScript files could use incorrect access checking in temp file handling
to disclose contents of files on the system otherwise not readable.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-16539?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ghostscript | 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 9.22~dfsg+1-0ubuntu1.2 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 9.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.9 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 9.10~dfsg-0ubuntu10.13 |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-16539?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

second commit fixes regression

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| ghostscript | * Upstream:   <http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;a=commit;h=a054156d425b4dbdaaa9fda4b5f1182b27598c2b> * Upstream:   <http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;a=commit;h=150c8f69646b854a99f35f27edaae012eb2e900f> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.5 · Medium

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | Required |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | None |
  | Availability impact | None |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.5 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2018-16539)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16539)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2018-16539)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-16539)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3768-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3768-1)
+ Ghostscript vulnerabilities
+ 19 September 2018

### Other references

* <https://www.artifex.com/news/ghostscript-security-resolved/>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16539>